A Louisiana pastor has been sentenced to 80 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two boys, marking his third conviction involving the abuse of minors.
Terry Reed, a pastor from the New Orleans suburb of Terrytown, received the sentence in Jefferson Parish after a jury found him guilty in May of two counts of third-degree rape and two counts of molestation of a juvenile. Prosecutors said Reed used his religious role and the trust of families to gain access to vulnerable boys before abusing them.
According to the Jefferson Parish district attorney’s office, Reed took the boys into his home after gaining the confidence of their guardians. Prosecutors said he presented himself as a pastor and mentor, then used biblical language to manipulate the victims and make the abuse appear normal.
The case drew emotional testimony at sentencing. The mother of one survivor told the court that she had trusted Reed because she had known him for years and believed he could help her son. She said Reed knew she had survived sexual abuse as a child herself, making the betrayal even more painful.
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A victim-impact statement read in court on behalf of her son described the harm caused by Reed’s abuse and expressed relief that the court process had reached sentencing.
Judge Ray Steib imposed the maximum 40-year sentence on each of the juvenile molestation convictions. The sentence totals 80 years.
Reed’s latest conviction was not his first. Court records and prosecutors said he previously pleaded guilty in 1997 to indecent behavior with a juvenile. In 2017, he again pleaded guilty in a separate case involving indecent behavior with a juvenile and molestation of a juvenile.
The repeated nature of the convictions has raised questions about how Reed continued to have access to minors despite his prior history. Prosecutors described his conduct as especially serious because it involved the use of religion and personal trust as tools of control.
The case also comes as the New Orleans area has faced broader scrutiny over sexual abuse involving religious leaders across different denominations. In recent years, other clergy and religious figures in Louisiana have faced criminal convictions or civil claims involving abuse allegations.
Reed’s case is legally separate from those broader scandals, but it fits into a larger public conversation about accountability, warning signs and the responsibility of institutions and communities to protect children.
Another part of Reed’s past has also received renewed attention. In 2002, two boys died after being electrocuted in a hot tub at his home. Investigators were unable to classify the deaths as homicide, suicide, accidental or natural, and that incident was not part of the sentencing hearing.
The court’s sentence means Reed is expected to spend decades in prison. For the survivors and their families, the punishment closes one chapter, but the long-term impact of the abuse remains.
The case is a reminder that abuse involving trusted adults can be especially damaging because it often begins with manipulation, dependency and misplaced confidence. Prosecutors said Reed exploited that trust while presenting himself as someone who could guide or help children.
Why It Matters
This case matters because it shows how predators can use positions of trust, including religious authority, to target vulnerable children. Reed’s prior convictions also raise serious questions about repeat offenders, community awareness and whether enough was done to prevent further harm.
What Comes Next
Reed’s legal team may seek post-conviction relief or appeal options, while prosecutors and victims’ families will focus on ensuring the sentence is carried out. The case may also renew calls for stronger safeguards around adults with prior child-abuse convictions who attempt to work with or mentor minors.
